This morning, at an ungodly hour, I am heading out to the airport to fly to Austin, Texas. I’m excited about it, despite the fact that it’s a work trip and I will be busy in meetings and other work activities for most of my time over there.

Although I have been to the US on dozens of occasions, I have never been to Texas, or anywhere near it. It’s a place that fascinates me no end. Maybe it’s the size of the state, or it’s natural beauty, or the unique personality of it’s inhabitants, I’m not sure. Austin is meant to be a particularly nice city, so I travel full of anticipation.

The journey itself is lo-ong. First of all London, then Chicago, then Austin, which means I will be spending most of the next 24 hours in planes and airports. I will be thoroughly wrecked by the time I arrive in the Lone Star state.

Following my trip to Texas, I head over to Stuttgart for a few days. I hope to visit the site of a huge ancient meteorite impact while there, as well as a small amount of skiing, perhaps. I’ve even discovered a pub there, (Biddy Early’s) that will be showing the Ireland vs France match next week.

So it’s all very busy and international and fascinating over the coming days. Hopefully I’ll have a few updates to share.

I’m not that keen on cows with horns. Probably because Nan, who had the kind of hornless small cows native to the Far North, told me they were “mean”. When you’re like five you don’t doubt what your Nan says. Probably cows with horn aren’t meaner than any others. How could I know really? I’m a small town girl with little experience of farming.

I’ve finally arrived and as expected, I’m wrecked. I slept well on the flight between London and Chicago, but I wasn’t so successful on the journey between Chicago and Austin. It’s a bummer when you are so tired you can’t sleep, can’t read or even think properly. One way to make the time crawl by.

Anyway, enough whinging! I’m here now and looking forward to the next few days.